Frame connector



Feb. 6, 1951 w. cs. ROEDER 2,540,995

FRAME CONNECTOR Filed May 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RNVENTOR H BY \/ A ORNEY Feb. 6, 1951 w. G. ROEDER 2,540,995

FRAME CONNECTOR F l y 29 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 4-.

INVENTOR @QRNEY Patented Feb. 6, 1951 FRAME CONNECTOR llll'altcr George Roeder, Scarsdale, N. Y., a'ssig'nor to Salers; Inc'., New York, N. Y., a corporation oiNew York i Application May 29, 1948,, Serial N0..3.U,U32

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to frames and attachments, the parts of which may be made at a factory and shipped in a compact, knocked-down condition to be assembled and erected by the user.

Among the objects are:

To provide a portable screen capable of supporting articles of merchandise without unduly concealing merchandise behind the screen.

To provide a screen of this type with attachments for joining another screen or screens there toin a plane therewith or at any desired angle thereto. 7

To provide a screen of this type with means in common for joining another screen or screens and for removably supporting a shelf or shelves therealong.

To provide a display screen that is simple, rugged, attractive in appearance, inexpensive, extensible and flexible in use.

In its. simplest form, a frame is formed of rails, the edges of which are: grooved to receive the flanges of special brackets which connect the abuttingends of adjacent rails and resilient rods are inserted between opposite rails. These reds cross each other and are connected by separable caps. Each bracket is formed oftwo plates, each plate having return flanges which form ferrules or sockets alongside the edges of the rail to which the plate is attached which ferrules serve as sockets to receive the ends of ties which connect adjacent frames or to receive the ends of projecting brackets or projecting supporting feet. Each plate constitutes means for supporting brackets or frames at various locations on the rails.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a frame with a number of representative attachments.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a connection between two frames.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the corner construction of a frame.

Fig. 4 is a side view and partial section showing a corner of the frame.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing a fragment of a frame with supporting feet.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the junction between two crossed rods.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View showing the means of connecting two crossed rods.

The unit frame as shown in Fig. l is a rectangular form and is made up of the rails I0, II, l2 and I3 which are joined at the corners by brackets I4, Mo, Mb and I40. These brackets are all alike and apply to the mitered corners so as to hold the parts of the frame together.

Each bracket consists of plates of metalti and it which are joined at H. Each plate has a perforated boss i8 to receive a screw l-8 which secures it to the adjacent rail. Each boss it is recessed to receive the head of the screw t8 so as to prevent the head of the screwfrom-scratchi-ng any contacting surface. Each platel5 has inturned flanges l9, l9 which fit slidably in the grooves 25, 29 on opposite sides of the rail t8. Plate [6 similarlyhas flanges 21, 2! which slide in the grooves 22, 22 of the rail 13. It will be noted that each plate is wider than the thickness of the rail to which it is secured andthe-edges are curled or flanged to form ferrules such as 23 and 24 on opposite sides of the rail to receive the ends of attaching devices.

Fig. 2 shows fragments of two adjacent frames which are connected by members 25 and 26. The member 25 is inserted a socket 26 of bracket I ka and a socket 2'? of bracket Mb. The lower connector 25 is inserted in a socket of a plate 28- similar to plate i5 and into a socket in plate 2.3 of bracket such as it. The left handpartof Fig. 2 constitutes afragrnent of a frame such as shown in Fig. 1 and the'right handpart of Fig; '2 represents a fragmenttof another frame having rails II and [2 corresponding to the rails H and 12. The connectors 25 and 26 are so constructed that the two frames may be brought into a-common plane or one hinged with respect to the other. Any number of frames may be connected in a similar manner. Fig. 1 shows a fragment of a frame It" connected to the main frame as shown on a large scale in Fig. 2.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the space within the frame is crossed by rods 3i), 3! and 32, 33 which are formed of resilient metal. The end of each rod is bent over as at 3 3 in Fig. 4 and inserted in a recess 35 in one of the rails. To assemble these rods each rod is bowed slightly and has its ends inserted in appropriate recesses in the frame. After the rods are installed they are connected by telescoping cup members 36, 31 which are slotted as at 38 and 39 respectively so as to embrace the crossed rods. These cup members may be detachably interlocked by means of outwardly projecting parts 4!] on the member 36 and an inwardly recessed part M on the cup 31. To detach the cup the rods 36 and 33 are forced in opposite directions until the projections to are released from the recesses 4|.

Fig. 5 shows two extension members 45 and 46 which serve as feet to hold a single frame upright. The upper end of the arm 4'! is hooked into a socket at the edge of plate I5 which corresponds with plate [5 and the end of the lower arm 48 is hooked into a socket at the edge of plate I6. The member 46 is similarly supported at the opposite face of the rail member H.

A bracket 59 constructed in a manner similar to the extensions 45 and 46 may be similarly supported by a plate which corresponds to plates and I6. Such brackets may be used to support shelves .or as hangers.

It should be understood that any number of frames may be connected together and adjacent frames may be brought close together as shown in Fig. 2, or by employing connectors 25* of greater length the frames may be ther apart. H H

This construction makes it possible to form the rails, brackets and other attachments at a factory and pack them in a knocked-down condition for storage and shipment. As the various attachments are interchangeable, it is possible to assemble :the frames in many difierent ways.

I claim:

1.v In a frame construction, a wooden rail member having a groove in each of its opposite faces near one edge thereof, a flat plate secured V to-said edge and having a ferrule extension adjaof said ferrule extensions at a point near the edge of the rail member.

2. The combination with a pair of juxtaposed rectangular frames with wooden rail members having opposed grooves along the outer side faces thereof, of brackets for interconnecting the adjacent rail members of said frames, each bracket comprising a fiat plate member secured intimately to the outer end face of each adjacent rail member, said plate member having its edges curled with the free edges thereof positioned in the' grooves of its respective rail member, the curled edges of said plate being spaced outwardly from the side faces of its respective rail member to form, together with said side faces, ferrules therebetween, and an angular'metallic connectspaced fure r 4 ing member disposed between said brackets with its free ends detachably mounted in opposed ferrules for flexibly interconnecting said frames.

3. A rectangular frame construction comprising wooden rail members having opposed grooves along the outer side faces thereof, brackets mounted on opposed corners of the frame, each bracket comprising a pair of integrally connected plate members disposed at right angles to each other and secured to the outer end faces of the adjacent rail members adjacent said corners, each of said plate members having its edges curled'with the free edges thereof positioned in the grooves of therespective rail members, the curled edges of said" plate being spaced outwardly of the side faces of said rail members to form, together with parts of said side faces, ferrules therebetween and disposed at right angles to each other for detachably receiving the ends of an angular rod serving as a support for the frame.

WALTER GEORGE ROEDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 566,593' Lynch Aug. 25, 1896 795,646 Plummer July 25, 1905 1,144,564 Powell June 29, 1915 I 1,450,513 Pearson et a1 Apr. 3, 1923 1,708,968 Gianelloni, Jr. Apr. 16, 1929 1,791,676 Landine Feb. 10, 1931 1,792,853 'McConneH Feb. 17, 1931 2,010,660 Ferris Aug. 6, 1935 2,028,918 Panza Jan. 28, 1936 2,260,176 Ford Oct. 21, 1941 2,291,178 Vanderwerp et a1. July 28, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,613 Great Britain Mar. 18, 1898 440,423 Great Britain Dec. 27, 1935 

